Ruins including roads and building foundations have been mapped out in an area of Honduras renowned for a legendary City of Gold.

Researchers believe they may have discovered an ancient city deep in the Honduran rainforest, which could be a legendary metropolis known as the City of Gold.

A 3D mapping technique called lidar has shown what appear to be ruins, including roads and building foundations, in the Mosquitia region.

It is in an area believed by some to be home to The White City, which according to legend is a now-buried metropolis full of gold.

The Conquistadors searched for it in the 1500s, and throughout the 1900s archaeologists documented mounds and other signs of ancient civilization in the region. However, so far the existence of the city has not been confirmed.

Douglas Preston (Relic, Reliquary, Riptide, etc.) had the privilege of tagging along on the expedition, and penned his thoughts for The New Yorker. Now that august publication's exclusitivity has lapsed, he's shared the article with his fans.

Setting aside anthropological and literary seasons aside for a moment; LIDAR is fascinating bit of kit. The fine folk at the American Geophysical Union have some interesting things to read for those who are so inclined.